A new outbreak of the Ebola virus in the Democratic Republic of Congo is believed to have killed 33 people in the east of the country, the health ministry said Saturday.

Thirteen Ebola cases have been confirmed since the fresh outbreak was declared on August 1 in North Kivu province.

While just three of the fatalities have been among the 13 confirmed cases, the death toll is believed to have risen to 33, the health authorities said in a bulletin Saturday.

Containing an Ebola outbreak in a "war zone" in the Democratic Republic of Congo is among the most difficult challenges the World Health Organization has faced, a top WHO official said Friday.

In North Kivu, health workers will have to navigate their response among more than 100 armed groups, 20 of whom are "highly active," WHO's emergency response chief Peter Salama told reporters.

The outbreak in North Kivu in eastern DRC was declared a week after WHO and the Kinshasa government hailed the end of an earlier Ebola flareup in northwestern Equateur province, which killed 33 people.

As with the earlier outbreak,"vaccinations will be an integral part of the response," the health ministry said Saturday.

KINSHASA, Congo (AP) — Congo's fight to rein in a deadly Ebola outbreak has authorities crossing the border to buy up available thermometers, a World Health Organization official said as the health ministry on Thursday announced that confirmed cases had reached 31, including nine deaths.

The spread of the often lethal hemorrhagic fever to a provincial capital of 1.2 million people has health officials scrambling to monitor for Ebola at busy ports in the capital, Kinshasa, which is downstream from the infected city of Mbandaka on the Congo River.

Mbandaka is one of three health zones with confirmed Ebola cases, complicating efforts to find and monitor hundreds of people who have been in contact with those infected. Two of the zones are rural and remote, with few roads or other infrastructure.

However, the danger has not yet passed. Just a week earlier, when visiting Kinshasa, capital of the DRC, on 12 June, WHO Director General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said: 'Even if one case … gets to an urban area, that could trigger another epidemic.'

True, but the WHO describes the outbreak as "mostly contained". I believe the reason for the 'mostly' being that the original outbreak area suffers from endemic ebola in its wild animal resevoirs.

It has been a while since the last case emerged. Oh, and the death rate is right down too, as the treatments seem to be working.

Medclinician wrote:

The big fear is that the virus could reach Kinshasa – home to around 10 million people – or the nearby city of Brazzaville in the neighbouring Republic of Congo.

So, there are a few remaining concerns, but to describe anything as; 'the big fear' as you do is; at best disengenuous, at worst scare-mongering.]]>
Fri, 22 Jun 2018 08:10:40 +0000http://www.avianflutalk.com/ebola-outbreak-congo-may-2018_topic37324_post270839.html#270839http://www.avianflutalk.com/ebola-outbreak-congo-may-2018_topic37324_post270836.html#270836
Author: MedclinicianSubject: 37324Posted: June 22 2018 at 7:56am

However, the danger has not yet passed. Just a week earlier, when visiting Kinshasa, capital of the DRC, on 12 June, WHO Director General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said: 'Even if one case … gets to an urban area, that could trigger another epidemic.'

The big fear is that the virus could reach Kinshasa – home to around 10 million people – or the nearby city of Brazzaville in the neighbouring Republic of Congo. These populous cities would give the virus an opportunity to quickly infect large numbers of people and to spread through transport networks to other parts of Africa. Experts who have traced the spread of HIV in the 20th century found that Kinshasa's railways played a key role in the explosive spread of the disease.

The previous West African epidemic prompted much soul-searching among global health figures and the research community. This spurred renewed investment in networks of scientists tasked with preparing the region for future outbreaks of Ebola and other infectious diseases. Not only have research teams been developing the vaccines, tests and treatments needed to curb the spread of disease, they are a standing army of experts ready to react when a crisis breaks.

It is a bit late in the day to co-ordinate a response. Typical of this administration, no funds until after the problem has been dealt with. http://www.avianflutalk.com/ebola-again_topic37320_post270761.html#270761]]>
Mon, 18 Jun 2018 14:27:59 +0000http://www.avianflutalk.com/ebola-outbreak-congo-may-2018_topic37324_post270762.html#270762http://www.avianflutalk.com/ebola-outbreak-congo-may-2018_topic37324_post270758.html#270758
Author: MedclinicianSubject: 37324Posted: June 18 2018 at 7:51am

Although the CDC has not posted updated numbers since the May 18th Notice, Dr. Peter Salama, the Deputy Director-General for Emergency Response, updated the cases numbers to a total of 60 cases with 37 Confirmed, 14 Probable, 9 suspected, with a 27-person death toll. Over 1100 contacts and high-risk individuals, such as health care workers and others providing care have been vaccinated with a promising but still experimental vaccine from Merck; several treatment protocols have also been deployed in the Region. There are no cases in the United States or in any country aside from the DRC.

Close monitoring of the events surrounding this outbreak in the DRC will continue by WHO and other international agencies and partners. Doctors Without Borders (MSF), the considered experts on identification, confinement, and treatment, are managing all the outbreak sites along with the Health Ministry of the DRC. WHO Chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told Reuters, when asked about the DRC outbreak situation, “It’s stabilizing. We’re optimistic, cautiously optimistic.”

For the United States, the White House has stated that the National Security Council is working with other Federal agencies to coordinate the US response to the outbreak.

Before I go on to post how Ebola is spreading and could be come a possible Pandemic, the recent deep breath over the face there is a vaccine is not really a solution. The vaccine has to be stored and shipped a extremely low temperatures which is not feasible or practical in a tropical sweltering hot country. It isn't the solution.

Ebola is spreading. This time it is in a densely populated area. Although it is not "airborne" per definition it is highly contagious and chances are the numbers given us are not all that accurate are inclusive when many people do not go to doctor to be treated.

Because of its early development status and limited, critical stability data, the vaccine had to be stored at –60°C or colder. Planning for the trial began in late 2014 on an accelerated timeline with significant challenges, including the lack of –60°C or colder vaccine storage, handling, and transport capability in a country with high year-round ambient temperatures.

2 Ebola patients die after slipping out of quarantine in Congo, officials say

"WHO spokesman Tarik Jasarevic said health workers had redoubled efforts to trace contacts with the patients. Health workers have drawn up a list of 628 people who have had contact with known cases who will need to be vaccinated."

I heard on the radio this morning that the Ebola outbreak has now moved from the countryside to a city of over one million people....this seems to be more serious than previous outbreaks.

[Sorry, I was too sleepy to get the name of the city, and the last WHO update is from the 14th May]]]>
Wed, 16 May 2018 22:18:55 +0000http://www.avianflutalk.com/ebola-outbreak-congo-may-2018_topic37324_post270249.html#270249http://www.avianflutalk.com/ebola-outbreak-congo-may-2018_topic37324_post270232.html#270232
Author: MedclinicianSubject: 37324Posted: May 16 2018 at 5:47am

Ebola virus disease – Democratic Republic of the Congo

Disease outbreak news14 May 2018

Since the publication of the first Disease Outbreak News on the Ebola outbreak in Equateur province, Democratic Republic of the Congo on 10 May 2018,an additional seven suspected cases have been notified by the country’s Ministry of Health. Importantly, since the last update, cases have been reviewed and reclassified, and some discarded.

From 4 April through 13 May 2018, a total of 39 Ebola virus disease cases have been reported, including 19 deaths (case fatality rate = 49%) and three health care workers. Cases were reported from the Bikoro health zone (n=29; two confirmed, 20 probable and 7 suspected cases), Iboko health zone (n=8; three probable and five suspected cases) and Wangata health zone (n=2; two probable cases). To date, 393 contacts have been identified and are being followed-up. Wangata health zone is adjacent to the provincial port city of Mbandaka (population 1.2 million). Response teams on the ground are in the process of verifying information on reported cases. Case numbers will be revised as further information becomes available.

Public health response

The Ministry of Health in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is coordinating the response.

WHO is working with the Ministry of Health and MSF to conduct ring vaccination using the investigational recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus–Zaire Ebola virus (rVSV-ZEBOV).

In Bikoro, Iboko, and Mbandaka health zones, the Ministry of Health along with WHO and partners are engaged in strengthening surveillance for new cases, carrying out contact tracing, case management, and community engagement, ensuring safe and dignified burials, and coordinating the response.

WHO is deploying 50 public health experts to support the Ministry of Health with response activities.

An air bridge for supplies and personnel will be established by the United Nations Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) starting 13 May with daily flights scheduled from Kinshasa to Mbandaka and Mbandaka to Bikoro.

WHO has released $1 million US dollars from the contingency fund for emergencies, the United Nations has released $2 million US dollars from the Central Emergency Response Funds, and the Welcome Trust has provided 2 million pounds sterling for critical research needs.

The WHO Director General, Deputy Director General for Emergency Preparedness and Response together with the WHO Regional Director for Africa will be in Kinshasa on 13 May to review operations and discuss further support to the Ministry of Health.

WHO risk assessment

Information about the extent of the outbreak is still limited and investigations are ongoing. The cases are being reported from remote locations that are difficult to access. However, the proximity of the affected area to the Congo River, which links to the Republic of the Congo and the Central African Republic, increases the risk of cases occurring in neighboring countries. Currently, WHO considers the public health risk to be high at the national level, moderate at the regional level, and low at the international level. As further information becomes available, the risk assessment will be reviewed.

At present, this event does not meet the criteria of a public heath event of international concern as defined in the IHR (2005) 1, and does not warrant the convening of an Emergency Committee under the IHR (2005).

WHO advice

WHO advises against any restriction of travel and trade to Democratic Republic of the Congo based on the currently available information. WHO continues to monitor travel and trade measures in relation to this event, and currently there are no restrictions of the international traffic in place.

comment: It is back and despite no coverage in the mainstream media - it is spreading in Africa.

On Friday, the World Health Organization announced it is preparing for “the worst case scenario” in the new Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This comes only three days after the outbreak was officially announced and a week after the first reported case.

In a press conference given in Geneva on Friday, Peter Salama, head of the WHO’s emergency response, told reporters the international health organization is taking the newest outbreak of this Ebola virus very seriously.

"We are very concerned, and we are planning for all scenarios, including the worst case scenario," Salama told reporters, Medical Xpress reported.

Since April 4, there have been 32 suspected or confirmed cases including 18 deaths, Reuters reported.

the reason it spread was the "Funeral Practices" of people in certain areas - and that is no longer accepted so the virus is not a problem.

I copped a bit of flack for mentioning this elephant in the room

I was talking to DrJohn Ray and he told me that many white worker were killed during the last Ebola epidemic. The people have a practice of defecating on the street and if someone does not do this they are harassed and sometimes even beaten for being like the white man.

So while you may have solved one way of it's spreading there is feces and filth in much of the water. It is also believed by some (and one wonders) if we actually created Ebola and then experimented in Africa with it.

It really is not much of a stretch, since I have found evidence of us developing more virulent strains of many viruses at secret labs across the U.S. to consider the possibility - we made it.

If other countries - especially North Korea, were trying to develop it, we would do the same for "protection" and a vaccine. Yet, it may have mutated again. It only takes a few more to make it airborne and start a Pandemic...

This part of Africa has dealt with numerous outbreaks over the past few decades, and they're long past the stage West Africa was at during their outbreak. The Congo knows how to deal with it far better by virtue of their history with the disease. I very much doubt it will spread like it did during the last outbreak.]]>
Fri, 11 May 2018 14:26:45 +0000http://www.avianflutalk.com/ebola-outbreak-congo-may-2018_topic37324_post270133.html#270133http://www.avianflutalk.com/ebola-outbreak-congo-may-2018_topic37324_post270130.html#270130
Author: MedclinicianSubject: 37324Posted: May 11 2018 at 6:53am